Weather protector for roofs



Oct. 12, 1965 K. D. DETMAN 3,210,896

WEATHER PROTECTOR FOR ROOFS Filed Aug. 20, 1963 Pics. 5

INVENTOR. KENNETH D. TMAN BWQJQQQ,

ATToRNEy United States Patent 3,210,896 WEATHER PROTECTOR FOR ROOFSKenneth D. Detman, 357 Morgan Ave., Mobile, Ala. Filed Aug. 20, 1963,Ser. No. 303,451 6 Claims. (Cl. 52-22) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code(1952), sec. 266) This invention described herein may be manufacturedand used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without thepayment to me of any royalty thereon.

The weather protector for roofs described herein pertains to a secondaryprotective covering supported a spaced distance from a conventionalroof. This secondary roof is not intended to be a waterproof roofcovering, but rather a flexible, ventilated, windproof sun and weathershade for most conventional roofs.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a covering for roofssupported on spacers a fixed distance above the roof to give protectionto the roof from the elements.

Another object of this invention is to describe a roofing module thatcan be easily applied to a standard roof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a series of roofingmodules that will have ventilation means between each module.

One of the main problems with roots is that they are affected by thecontinuous exposure to the sun rays, and the direct erosion effect ofwind. The sun and Wind cause the roofing surface to bake out and crackover a period of constant exposure. This invention is concerned mainlywith a secondary roofing that will protect the main roof of a building.This secondary roof is composed of separate overlapping modules that areattached to the main roof at a distance above the main roof by spacingand fastening means. The details of this invention will become moreapparent in the following description of which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the assembled modules in an overlapping fashion;

FIG. 2 is a view taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a top view of a single module showing the three serrated edgesIn the top view of the composite protective roof structure of FIG. 1,the individual hexagonal plates 1 are arranged in an overlappingfashion. Spacer members are attached to the plates with a fasteningmeans 5 in the center of each plate. The top three edges 3 of the plate1 are underneath the adjacent plates with turned up serrated edgesgiving air passages for the air to circulate through the protectiveroofing. This protective roofing is not meant to be waterproof and thereis no sealing means at the overlapped portion of the plates. However, inthe normal rainfall, water will not run under the protective roofing toa great extent. Only in a driving rain will an appreciable amount ofwater get under the protective roofing. In the event that water does getbeneath the protective roofing, it will run off the main roof in thesame way as if there were no protective roofing.

After the installation of the protective roof, the main roof neverreceives the direct rays of the sun and therefore keeps the roof andinterior temperatures considerably lower than those of unprotectedroofs. Also, the main roof with this protective roofing will lastseveral times longer because the sun cannot bake out the waterproofingagents in the main roof.

This protective roofing is essentially a series of overlapping plates,made of either noncorrosive metal, plastic, waterproof fiber, reinforcedceramics or other waterproof and fire resistant material. These platesmay be of any shape or size, with a hexagonal shape the most favored.These plates are supported above the roofing material by suitablebrackets or supports which are attached to the roof surface throughwaterproof fastening means. Spacing of the plates is such that theyoverlap like shingles at some average fixed distance from the roof asrequired by the type of roof.

The usual application of this protective roof will be over a newstandard roof. On wood roofs the brackets can be attached by serratednails or screws through suitable rubber or plastic gaskets in contactwith the roofing surface. On metal roofs, bolts and studs using similargaskets may be used. On other types of roots, a waterproof adhesive maybe used or any of the previously mentioned fasteners.

FIG. 2, which is a side view of the main roof 8 with the protectiveroofing installed at a spaced distance above it. The hexagonol plates 1are supported on spacer member 4, the ends of which have been bent atright angles to the main body of strap support spacer 4. Through a hole2 in plate 1 screw 5 connects the plate to the support. Support 4 isattached at its other end to roof 8 by means of screw 7 through asimilary bent end portion. Gasket 6 forms a watertight seal betweensupport 4 and roof 8. Strap support 4 is only one of many types ofspacers that may be used within the scope of this invention. It isessentially a flat piece of strap iron which has its ends bent forconnection with the plate and the roof 8 which also has a hole in eachbent end portion for fastening means.

Fastener 10 is another type fastener that can be used as spacing theplates above main roof 8. It is comprised of a rod like body having apointed end 13 and a tapered fastening end adapted to receive a nut 11.At a distance from this pointed end is a flange or stop to prevent thefastener from being driven too far into the roof 8. Beneath this flangeis a gasket 12 forming a watertight seal. The spacer at the far right ofFIG. 2 is similar to the spacer 4 at the far left of FIG. 2 except forthe fastening means which is a toggle, molly or standard bolt 14 holdingthe spacer to roof 8.

The spacing of the protective roof above the main roof 8 depends on thetype of roof involved but a minimum of about 2 inches gives propercirculation between the main roof and the protective roof.

The overlap of the hexagonal plates over one another is not critical butabout a 4 inch overlap will allow most of the water to drain off theprotective roof and also provide adequate ventilation between thehexagonal plates. The forward edge of the plate which is serrated and upturned gives adequate ventilation if the turned up lip is about A1. inchand the serrations are about 4 inch but here again these dimensions arenot critical.

The top view of a single hexagonal plate is shown in FIG. 3 before theserrated edges are upturned. Three of the six sides of plate 1 arestamped out with serrations. The edge 15 has the deepest serrationswhich are the same depth all across edge 15. These serrations can be anysuitable depth but here are about 4 inch deep. Edge 16 has serrationswhich begin at about 4 inch deep at the juncture of edge 15 and edge 16and continually decrease in depth along edge 16 to a zero depth at theopposite end of edge 16. Edge 17 is similarly serrated. If the upturnedlip on the three edges 15, 16 and 17 is equal in height to the depth ofthe serrations then the upturned li-p will be highest along edge 15 andtaper off to zero along edges 16 and 17. These three serrated edges willfit under the adjacent plates and will also give ventilation passagesalong all sides of the overlapping joints between the plates,

When these individual plates are attached to a spacer secured to theroof and the plates arranged in an overlapping fashion they Will give asecondary roof that Will shield the main roof from the continualexposure to the elements. This secondary roof will prolong the life ofthe main roof and also have an insulating effect on the building.

I claim:

1. A protective covering in combination with a roof comprising;

(a) a series of overlapping plates having upturned serrated portionsalong a portion of the perimeter of each of said overlapping plates anda flat, uninterrupted portion along the remainder of the perimeter, saidflat, uninterrupted portions of each plate over lapping the serratedportions of another adjacent plate for promoting free circulation of airto all areas between said roof and said covering while protecting saidroof and said covering from adverse elements; and

(b) means supporting said overlapping plates above the surface of theroof.

2. A protective covering in combination with a roof as recited in claim1 wherein said means supporting said overlapping plates comprise strapmembers each having oppositely directed terminal members provided withopenings therein receiving fastening means.

3. A protective covering in combination with a roof as recited in claim1 wherein said means supporting said overlapping plates comprises a rodterminating at one end thereof in a tapered fastening means and a stopmember coacting with said tapered fastening means and threaded fasteningmeans at an opposite end thereof with said tapered fastening means andsaid threaded fastening means securing said rod to the roof and saidplates to the rod respectively.

4. A flexible, ventilated deflective covering in combination with a roofcomprising:

(a) a series of overlapping hexagonal plates having upturned, serratedportions on three sides and flat, uninterrupted portions on theremaining sides, said flat, uninterrupted portions of each plateoverlapping the serrated portions of another adjacent plate forpromoting free circulation of air to all areas between said roof andsaid covering while protecting said roof and said covering from adverseelements; and

(b) means supporting said overlapping plates above the surface of theroof.

5. A flexible, ventilated, deflective covering in combination with aroof as recited in claim 4 wherein said overlapping plates are providedwith av centrally located aperture receiving said support means.

6. A flexible, ventilated, deflective covering in combination with aroof as recited in claim 4 wherein said hexagonal plates are uniformlyserrated along one edge and adjacent, adjoining edges have serrationsdecreasing uniformly in depth from said uniformly serrated edge.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 855,475 6/07Orlikowski 52-542 1,765,729 6/ 30 La Morte 52-679 XR 2,224,273 12/40Neptune 52-679 2,565,545 8/51 Card 52-64 XR 2,577,482 12/51 Ray 52-782,602,406 7/52 Orter 52-3 2,608,942 9/52 Smith 52-3 2,624,298 1/53Farren 52-533 2,693,623 11/54 Steingruber 52-78 2,825,100 3/58 Howard i52-78 2,876,715 3/59 Banks 52-3 RICHARD W. COOKE, JR., Primary Examiner.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, HENRY C. SUTHERLAND,

Examiners.

1. A PROTECTIVE COVERING IN COMBINATION WITH A ROOF COMPRISING: (A) ASERIES OF OVERLAPPING PLATES HAVING UPTURNED SERRATED PORTIONS ALONG APORTION OF THE PERIMETER OF EACH OF SAID OVERLAPPING PLATES AND A FLATUNINTERRUPTED PORTION ALONG THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIMETER, SAID FALT,UNINTERRUPTED PORTIONS OF EACH PLATE OVERLAPPING THE SERRATED PORTIONSOF ANOTHER ADJACENT PLATE FOR PROMOTING FREE CIRCULATION OF AIR TO ALLAREAS BETWEEN SAID ROOF AND SAID COVERING WHILE PROTECTING SAID ROOF ANDSAID COVERING FROM ADVERSE ELEMENTS; AND (B) MEANS SUPPORTING SAIDOVERLAPPING PLATES ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE ROOF.